Two campuses within the University of Wisconsin System announced Tuesday they are offering employees a voluntary retirement buyout with a one-time payout equal to 50% of an employee's annual base salary.

The buyouts at UW-Oshkosh and UW-Green Bay offer the same payout, but the eligibility requirements are different. At UW-Green Bay, the offer is being extended to all employees 55 and older who have at least five years of service. At UW-Oshkosh, employees must be at least 60 and have 25 years of service to the state to be eligible.

Tuesday's announcements bring to four the total number of campuses seeking to reduce their workforce through voluntary buyouts in the face of state budget cuts. UW-Eau Claire was the first campus to make the offer, followed last week by UW-Superior.(303)

W. Capitol Drive is open for business

Christmas has come early for residents and businesses along W. Capitol Drive, from N. 60th St. to N. 84th St.

Since April, workers have been rebuilding the busy thoroughfare, which nearly 34,000 vehicles use each day.

Earlier this month, construction was completed on eastbound and westbound sections. And on Monday, a ceremony was held at Kitt’s Frozen Custard, 7000 W. Capitol Drive, to mark the occasion.

“Horrible” is the word Ghassan Korban, the city’s Public Works commissioner, used to describe the way the roadway used to be like.

“This was much needed,” Korban said. “And for the next 40 years, we’re done.”

“I’m just thankful it’s completed,” said Ray “Butch” Rydz, who has run Kitt’s for the past 36 years. “Our business was down 30%. But now our customers will have access to Kitt’s and we’re thankful for that.”

The $5 million state Department of Transportation project was done on time and on budget, city officials said. The city’s Department of Public Works managed construction and inspection in behalf of the state. Zignego Co., was the prime contractor.

One of the major issues the Department of Public Works had to grapple with is the burden businesses must bear when traffic is rerouted or shut down altogether.

In this case, the Department of Public Works’ Support for Business program worked with business owners to create ways to help customers get to businesses they frequent.

But even with improved communication, businesses up and down the street took a financial hit, even though they’re happy with the way the street looks now. Mayor Tom Barrett, who attended Monday’s ceremony, called it “short-term pain for long-term gain.”

Brian Kim, who runs Fresh Image, an urban clothing and sneaker store, said business was down 30% during construction.

“They started on my side of the street in July and they closed down one of my entrances,” Kim said. “That was a way for my customers to get in and out. They had to find a way to get in.”

Kim said he called city officials to see what could be done. Crews came out and opened one of the entrances, but closed it down a week later, Kim said.

“Obviously, we are getting more traffic now,” Kim said as he motioned toward the street. “I have no problems now.”

Hazim Farah, who runs Capitol Audio and Wheels, which sells cars and electronics, estimated his business went down 80% compared with a similar time period last year.

“There was no access for me,” he said. “We took a big hit and we’re still suffering,” he said.

Will business pick up?

“I don’t know how the economy will go. Our customers may have gone elsewhere," Farah said. "Now they have to know we have access.”

Rydz said he prepared for construction by printing out maps that explained how customers could get to his stand. He also distributed them to other businesses along Capitol.

Throughout the construction period, it wasn’t just businesses that had to cope with a drop in business. Even libraries felt the downturn.

Tricia Schriefer, librarian in charge at the Capitol Drive Library, said it was difficult for patrons to get in and out of the library.

“Some of our patrons went to other libraries, though we had some tried and true customers who still came,” she said.

Overall, she said, circulation and patrons were down during the construction.